In the early hours of Saturday, May 18, 2025, a multi-agency law enforcement checkpoint in Summerville led to the arrest of three individuals on charges of marijuana possession and the seizure of multiple firearms. At approximately 12:31 AM, Corporal Rob Villagomez of the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, along with Deputy Mollohan, Georgia State Patrol Corpora Flowers, and Trooper Jamie Mitchell, conducted a license and safety checkpoint at the intersection of East Washington Street and Penn Street.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating allegations of misappropriation of public funds by former Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry. The investigation was triggered by an audit of the county’s financial records earlier this year, which revealed several discrepancies related to an internet project in the Menlo area. According to Menlo residents and city officials, the promised internet project never materialized.
Karlie Alexa Brewster, 21, was arrested on DUI charges on Saturday night after a safety checkpoint near the Lowry Rodeo in Gore, Georgia, around 10:45 PM. The arrest happened at Johnston Road and Farmersville Road. According to the incident report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, Brewster was stopped at the checkpoint, which included deputies and Georgia State Troopers. The law enforcement officers noted a strong smell of alcohol on Brewster’s breath during their initial encounter. Brewster admitted to consuming “one shot” at the rodeo. A preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol content of 0. 18, exceeding Georgia’s legal limit of 0. 08. Brewster consented to field sobriety tests, during which six signs of impairment were observed, including bloodshot eyes and a red face. Further signs of impairment were noted during additional tests, such as missing heel-to-toe and swaying. After these tests, Brewster was arrested. At 11:00 PM, she agreed to a blood draw, during which she stated, “I only drove because I was less intoxicated than my boyfriend. ” She was taken to jail and charged with DUI/Alcohol.
The Town of Trion and the Trion Veterans Committee is asking the public to come out and honor our nation’s heroes this Memorial Day Weekend. Coming up on Saturday, May 24th at 1 PM, there will be a program at the Trion Veterans Memorial, located at the Trion Track Field off Simmons Street in Trion to remember and honor those who have given their life in service to our country.
A former Dade County Detention Officer, Travis Cutts, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and other charges following an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The investigation was initiated after an inmate filed a complaint alleging sexual misconduct against the officer. Dade County Sheriff Keith Cross requested the GBI’s Region 1 office in Calhoun to investigate the matter due to its involvement of a county employee. The GBI investigation found probable cause to warrant criminal charges against the Detention Officer. Cutts was arrested and booked into the Dade County Jail on charges of violating the Oath of Office, sexual assault by persons with supervisory or discipline authority, and sexual battery. Sheriff Cross expressed his disappointment and commitment to upholding the highest standards within the Sheriff’s Office, stating that he terminated Cutts’ employment and reported the arrest to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training Council. He also emphasized that this incident should not reflect on the dedication and hard work of other employees at the Sheriff’s Office.
The Trion Town Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting for the month of May tomorrow evening, May 22nd, in the Trion Town Hall conference room. The public is invited to attend. The meeting will begin with a call to order, followed by a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council will then move to approve the agenda, minutes from the previous meeting, and financials through general consent. Old Business will be addressed before moving on to New Business, which includes several key items: The council will discuss the potential hiring of Justin Claxton for the police department. Paula V. Arden is scheduled to address the council during the public participation portion of the meeting.The council will review bids for a zero-turn lawn mower for the Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and the council will discuss Local Road Assistance Funding (LRAF) totaling $44,343.17 allocated to the Street Department. Following New Business, the council members will have the opportunity to offer comments before adjourning the meeting. Prior to the regular meeting, a work session will be held at 6 PM. The regular meeting will commence shortly thereafter.
Georgia Power announced a proposed agreement Monday that would prevent the utility from raising base rates for the next three years. The deal, struck with the state Public Service Commission’s (PSC) Advocacy Staff, hinges on approval from the full five-member PSC and would effectively cancel the rate case Georgia Power planned to submit by July 1st.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has opened the application and renewal system for the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) program for 2025-2027, which offers sales tax exemptions to qualified agricultural producers.Eligible farmers can apply for or renew their GATE certificate online, paying all fees electronically.Important reminders include that expired certificates cannot be renewed, and a new card for those expiring in 2025 or later was mailed in November.
Between April 28 and May 1, 2025, the FBI launched Operation Restore Justice, a nationwide effort involving all 55 FBI field offices and other federal and local agencies aimed at finding and arresting child sex offenders. The operation led to the rescue of 115 children and the arrest of 205 individuals, including six people charged in Northern Georgia: Austin Hunter Bedingfield, Ian Dudar, Kenneth Frazier, Eduardo Gardea, Connie Lynn Thompson, and Christopher Welcher.
